Gripping and alining head for holding turbine-blades while milling.



-R. GRIPPING AND ALINING HEAD FOR HOLDING TURBINE BLADES WHILE MILLING,

J. B. WEA

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I3. I9I4.

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J. B. WEAVER.

GRIPPING AND ALINING HEAD FOR HOLDING TURBINE BLADES WHILE MILLING.

APPucAilou FILED AUG.I3. 19x4.

1,271,399, Patented July 2,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JOSEPH BRIGGS WEAVER, 0F NEWEORT NEWS, VIRGIN 1A, ASSIGNGB TOENGINEEBITNG PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF NEWPGET NEWS, VIRGINIA, A.CORPORATION OF VIR- GINIA;

'GRIPPING- AND ALTNING HEAD FQR HOLDING TURBINE-BLADES WHILE MILLING.

Specification of Letters men.

Patented July 2, 1918.

Application filed August 13, 1914. Serial No. 856,546.

My present invention consists of a novel gripping and alinmg head forholding turbine blades while milling, whereby the blades are accuratelyclamped in alinedpd sition with a minimum amount of manual labor. Itfurther consists of a novel construction and arrangement of clampingdevices and novel means for automatically actuating the same.

It further consists of novel means for alining the blades with respectto the milling devices.

It further consists of novel means for manually effecting the opening ofthe clamping jaws.

It further consists of novel adjusting means for the clamping jawswhereby articles of different sizes may be alined and clamped inposition to be operated upon.

Other novel features of my invention will hereinafter more clearlyappear in the detailed description thereof.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings a preferred embodiment which is at presentpreferred by me, since thesame will give in practice satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be under stood. that the variousinstrumentalitiesof which my inventionv consists can be variouslyarranged and organized andthatmy invention is not limited except by'thescope of the appended claims to the precise arrangement and organizationof these instru-' mentalities as herein shown and described. Figure 1represents a top plan view, partly broken away, of an apparatusembodying my invention.

Fig. represents a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 represents an endelevation, partly in section, of my apparatus- -Figs. 4 to 7 inclusiverepresent, respectively. perspective views of portions of the clampingmechanism, in detached position.

Fig. 8 represents a side elevation of another embodiment of myinvention.

Fig. 9 represents a plan view of a screw.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings:

1 designates the base of an apparatus embodying my invention, and whichis designed to be secured to the bed of a milling or other machine inanydesired manner. The base 1 has mounted thereon a movable bed 2, whichis maintained in assembled condition with re spect to the base by meansof a gib 3, having a slotted flange 4. 5 designates a fastening deviceconsisting, of a screw engaging the bed 2 and provided with shoulders-(ibetween which the flange 4 is located. 7 designates a bearing blockwhich is secured to the bed 2 by bolts 8. 9 designates a shaft keyed inthe bearing block "7 by means of a key 10 whereby the shaft9 islongitudinally slidable in the bearing block 7 and at the same time itis prevented from rotating. 11 is an adjusting. collar Whichhas a curvedslot 12 through which passes a stop consisting of a bolt 13, the innerend of which is in threaded engagement with the bearing block 7 Theshaft 9 passes freely through a clamping head 14' and is provided with aportion of reduced diameter 15. thereby forming a shoulder 16, and saidportion 15 passes freely throughtheclamping head 17 and the postlS,which latter forms a part of the bed 2. The end of the shaft 9 isthreaded to receivea nut 19 and a spring 20 is interposed betweenawasher 21 and the block 18.. The shaft 9 is threaded ,as at 22toreceive the threaded hub of a rock arm 23, provided with a flange 24,which is engaged by a clip 25 secured to the head 14 by a clampingdevice 26..

.. The rock arm 23* has mountedthereon a the hemisphericaljaw holdersand 3%, respectively, the detail construction of which is best seen inFigs. (3 and 7. The aw holder is provided with a dove-tail groovewith'which the end of a rod36 is in sliding engagement, said rod passingthrough the clamping head 1-1: and being provided with a 'nut '37,whereby it may be fixed with respect to said head. The jaw holder 33 isprovided on Opposite sides with rearwardly inclined grooves 38 which areadapted to receive the lugs 39 of the clamping jaw 10, the :inner face11 of which is concave. In order to retain the jaw 40 with respect-tothe jawholder 33, 'I-provide the clips 13, whichare pivotally connectedto the sides of said head 33. I

The recess in the head 17 is adapted to receive the jaw holder 31, whichis vprovided with a dove-tail groove Madapted to receive the head of a.rod 14:, which is slidably mounted therein. The rod 14: passes throughthe head 17, as seen in Fig. 2, and is pro vidcd with a nut 4.5, inorder that thc jaw holder 34 inay befixed in its adjusted position. Theinner face of the jaw holder 3-1 is provided with a dove-tailgroove 46,with which is adapted to engage the rear end of a removable clamping jaw-17, the forward end of which, as at 4:8, is convex. 49 designates clipspivoted toi'opposite sides of the jaw holder 34 and adapted to besivunginto position to retain'the removable jaw 4:7 in position. 7

In the embodiment seen in Fig. 8, the construction conforms to that seenin Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive except that instead of employing a aw holderand jaw similar to the parts 83 and 410 respectively, I employ a jawholder 50 which is recessed as at 51 in order to receive a removableclamping jaw 52, which is held in position by means of pivoted clips 53,it being understood that the manner of securingtheremovable clampingjaws with respect to their holders and theconstruction and formation ofsuch clamping jaws may vary widely in practice within the scope of theappended claims and still be within the scope of my invention.

In order that the turbine blade 54, see Fig. 1, will be automaticallybrought into alinement with the milling devices, 1 provide a guide 55comprising an angle plate having a rearwardly and outwardly inclinedportion 56, said guide being provided with a laterally extending portionwhich is slotted as -at"57,fin order to receive fastening de- 'type o'famachine. It will, however, be understood that the base 1 is secured tothe recipro'catory bed of a milling or other suitable machine in orderto travel in unison with the bed. The cam bracket 31 is secured to astationary part of the milling or other machine, and the aliningguide 55is also secured to a stationary portion of the frame of the machine inconjunction with which-my gripping and alining head is'employed.Assuming now that the clamping head 14 is in its rearward position, theclamping jaws will be in open position and the roller 27 will-be'locatedat the rear end of the cam groove 30. The movable bed on whichthe base 1 is secured now moves forwardly in the direction ofthe arrowseen in Fig. 1, and the operator inserts a turbine blade 54 between theclamping jaws 40 and 17 respectively. During this forward movement ofthe bed of the milling machine, the roller 27 travels in the cam slot 30in such a manner as to cause a partial rotation of the arm 23. Sincethis rock arm is in threaded engagement with the shaft 9 which latter isconnected with the clamping head 14 and is slidable in the bearing block7 the clamping head 14- will be moved forwardly until the clamping jawsclose upon and grip the turbine blade. Before, however, the turbineblade is clamped between the j aws, the base 1 has been advanced to aposition in which.

accurately alined with respect to the clamping jaws, so that the cuttersto which the turbine blade is presented by the advancement of the base 1will give the desired contour to the end of the blade.

It will be noticed that the periphery of the cam or roller 27 isrounded. as will be understood by reference to Fig. 1- so that thedesired clamping action can be effected without an excessive movement ofthe movable clamping jaw. On the rearward move ment of the base 1, theroller 27 as is apparent. will move rearwardly in the cam slot 30 andthe clamping head 11 with its clamping jaw will be moved rea'rwardl vrelatively to the clamping head 17 and the clamping jaws will be opened.

It will be understood from the foregoing that during the ordinaryoperation ;of my device, one clamping jaw is automatically movedrelatively to the other clamping jaw due to the forward and rearwardmovement of the clamping head 14 which is mounted on the. base 1.

Inorder to manually effect the opening of the clamping jaws, the lever62 is moved to the left fromthe position'in which it is seen in Fig. 2.This causes the post 18, the clamping heads 1-l and 17, spring 20, andtheir adjuncts to move to the left as a unit on the base 1 of themachine. During this movement, the roller 27 traveling in the cam groove30 causes the partial rotation of the rock arm 23 which is in threadedengage,

ment with the shaft 9 andwhich is connected to theclamping head 14; bymeans of the clip 25. The clamping head 14: ismoved a greater distancetothe left than is the clamping head 17, since themovement of the latterin this direction is limited by the shoulder 16 on the shaft 9. Theturbine blade clamped between the jaws is therefore. released. i 7

It will thus be apparent that the cam groove 30 and the roller 27 andits adjuncts serve as a means to automatically clamp and unclamp theclamping jaws and that the unclamping of the jaws can also be effectedby the manual actuation of the lever 62.

Owing to the provision of the spring 20, a

yielding or resilient abutment is formed for the stationary jaw holderand jaw, and a yielding clamping action is eflected against the turbineblade. I

Special attention is directed to the novel manner of constructing theclamping jaws whereby the blades are automatically centered, itbeing-seen that the; rearward side of a blade engagesla;clampingja-w attwo points, and that the other clamping aw engages the turbine blade .atbut one point which is centrally of the blade, so that as the clampingaws come together, the turbine blade will i be 7 automatically centeredand clamped in proper position with respect to the milling cutters, aswill be-best understood by reference to land 2. The aw holders 33 and 3dare rotatably adjustable in their respective, clamping head so that theturbine blade or. other article which 18, to be milled may be clampedinany desired position withrespect to the milling.

cutters. ,To accomplish this. result it is simply necessary to actuatethe nuts 87 and 45 and rotatably adjust theparts as desired.

It will now be apparent that l have devised a novel and usefulconstruction of a gripping: and, alining .liead for holding tnr-.

binc blades while 'n' illing, which embodies the features ofadvantageenumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the abovedescription, and while I have, in

cation of said base.

give in practice satisfactory and reliable sults, it is to be understoodthat the sai e is susceptible of modification in various par-.

ticulars within the scope of the. appended claims without departing fromthe spirit or.

scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. J

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is V 1. A device. of the character set forth,comprising a reciprocatory base, clamping heads movably mounted ther in,a shaft passing throughvsaid heads, a resilient abutment for one of saidheads, a rock arm abu ting against the otherof said'heads and inthreaded engagement with said shaft, clamping jaws mounted in the saidclamping heads,--and means to impart a rotary move ment tosaid rock armduring the recipro- 21A device of the character -ment to said rock armdurinthe reciprocation of said base. V j 3. A device of the characterset forth, comprismg a reciprocatory base, clan'ip'mg heads movablymounted J therein, "a shaft passing through said heads, an abutment forone of said heads, a rockarm abutting against the other of said heads'and' in said shaft,"

threaded engagement with clamp ngi aws mounted, in said clampingheads,-andmeans to impart a rotary' move ment to said-rock arm durmgtherec1pro-.

cation of said base.

4. A device of the characterset forth;

comprising a reciprocatorylbase, heads movably. mounted onsaidbase, ashaft extenda ing through said heads, anut on said, shaft,

a spring intermediate said nut andone of said heads a rock arm; inthreaded engage I forth, comprising. a reciprocatory base, clamping saidshaft,

ment with, said shaft and connected-"with 7 the other of saidCheadsj-tomove lon nally therewith, a roller-on said-rockarm,

and ,a stationary bracket havingyaf 'c'am groove in which said rollertravels'during the recipfrocating-movement of said base.

5. A device of the character set forth, comprising a reciprocatory base,clamping heads slidably mounted in said base, a shaft, passing throughsaid heads, a compression device carried by one end of said shaft and'exerting a pressure against one of said heads, a; rock arm n threadedengagement tudiwith said shaft and contacting with the other of saidheads, means to permit relative rotation of said rock arm and head andto prevent relative longitudinal movement of such parts, a roller havingits periphery curving toward each end thereof and mounted on said rockarm, and a stationary bracket having a longitudinally extending camgroove therein, with which the periphery of said roller engages topartially rotate said rock arm during the movement of said base.

6. A device of the character set forth, comprising a base, clampingheads movably mounted therein, a post movably mounted in said base andforming an abutment for one of said heads, a shaft passing through saidheads, a nut on the end of said shaft, a spring between said nut andsaid block, a rock arm in threaded engagement with said shaft, a clipcooperating with said rock arm and the adjacent head to permit relativerotation of such parts andto prevent relative longitudinal movementthereof, means to fix said post with respect to said base,

clamping jaws carried by said head, and

means to actuate said rock arm during the travel of sald base to causerelative movement of said clamping jaws.

7. A device of the character set forth, comprising a base, clampingheads movably mounted therein, a post movably mounted in said base andforming an abutment for one of said heads, a shaft passing through saidheads, a nut on the end of said shaft, a spring between said nut andsaid block, a rock arm in threaded engagement with said shaft, a clipcooperating with said rock arm and the adjacent head to permit relativerotation of such parts and to prevent relative longitudinal movementthereof, means to fix said post with respect to said base, clamping jawscarried by said head, means to actuate said rock arm during the travelof said base .to cause relative movement of said clamping j aws, andmeans to aline the article gripped between the said clamping jaws duringthe reciprocting of said base.

8. A device of the character set forth, comprising blade clampingmechanism consisting of cooperating clamping jaws, one of which has aconvex face, and the other of which has a concave face, jaw holders, ashaft on which said jaw holders are mounted, means to rotatably adjustsaid clamping jaws, means to simultaneously reciprocate said jawholders, and means cooperating with said shaft to automatically effectrelative movement of said holders during their reciprocation.

. 9. A device of the character set forth, comprising clamping heads,clamping jaws thereon, a shaft passing loosely through said heads, meansto prevent rotation of said shaft, a spring at one end of said shaft andengagingthe adjacent jaw holder, means to reciprocate said clampingheads, and means cooperating with the other of said jaw holders toautomatically effect the locking and unlocking of said jaws.

10. In a device of the character stated, clamping jaws, means to effecttheir relative movement, and a reciprocatory base on which said jaws aremounted, said means comprising a rotatably mounted rock arm cooperatingwith one of said jaws to open and close it, and cam means toautomatically actuate said arm during the reciprocation of said base.

11. Ina device of the character stated, clamping jaws, supportstherefor, a reciprocatory base on which said sup orts are mounted, meansto maintain one of said clamping jaws normally stationary, meansconnected with the other of said clamping jaws to effect its relativemovement with respect tothe stationary clamping aw during thereciprocation of said base, said means including a stationary brackethaving a cam groove therein and a roller movable in said groove andoperatively connected with the movable jaw support to travel in unisontherewith.

12. In a device of the character stated, a reciprocatory base, anon-rotatable shaft supported thereon, clamping heads mounted on saidshaft, one of said heads being movable, a device to maintain one of saidheads normally stationary, and means to effect relative movement of saidmovable head with respect to said stationary head during thereciprocation of said base.

13. In a device of the character stated, a reciprocatory base, anon-rotatable shaft supported thereon, clamping heads mounted on saidshaft, one of said heads being movable, means to yieldingly maintain oneof said heads normally stationary with respect to said base, means toeffect relative movement of said movable head with respect to saidstationary head during the reciprocation of said base, and means toaline a turbine blade to be clamped during the reciprocation of saidbase.

14. In a device of the character stated, a reciprocatory base, anon-rotatable shaft supported thereon, clamping heads mounted on saidshaft, one of said heads being movable, a tension device to maintain oneof said heads normally stationary, means to effect relative movement ofsaid movable head with respect to said stationary head duringthereciprocation of said base, and an adjustable alining device for thearticles to be gripped.

15. In a device of the character stated, a reciprocatory base, anon-rotatable shaft supported thereon, clamping heads mounted on'saidshaft, a tension device to maintain one of said heads normallystationary, the other of said heads being movable, means to effectrelative movement of said movable head with respect to said stationaryhead during the reciprocation of said base, and manually controlledmeans independent of said first means to effect relative movement ofsaid heads at any position of said base.

16. In a device of the character stated, a reciprocatory base, anon-rotatable shaft supported thereon and provided with a shoulder,clamping heads movably mounted on said shaft, a tension device forholding one of said heads normally against a shoul der on said shaft,the other head being movable, and means to effect relative movement ofsaid movable head with respect to said stationary head during thereciprocation of said base.

17. In a device of the character stated, clampingjaws, a tension devicefor maintaining one of said jaws in a stationary position, the other ofsaid jaws being movable, means to simultaneously reciprocate both ofsaid jaws, and means to move said. movable jaw with respect to thestationary jaw during the reciprocation of both aws.

18. In a device of the character stated, a pair of clamping heads, anon-rotatable shaft common thereto, a reciprocatory base on which saidheads are mounted, a rock arm having a portion thereof in threadedengagement with said shaft and in contact with one of said heads, andmeans for automatically oscillating said rock arm during thereciprocation of said base.

19. In a device of the character stated, a pair of clamping heads, anon-rotatable shaft common thereto and on which the heads are looselymounted, a rock arm having a portion thereof in threaded engagement withsaid shaft and in contact with one of said heads, a yielding abutmentfor the other of said heads, and means for oscillating said rock arm.

20. In a device of the character stated, a pair of clamping heads,anon-rotatable shaft common thereto, a rock arm having a portion thereofin threaded engagement with said shaft andin contact with one of saidheads, and means for oscillating said rock arm, in combination with atension device carried by the non-rotatable shaft for one of said headsto maintain it normally stationary on said base.

21. In a device of the character stated, a pair of clamping heads, anon-rotatable shaft common thereto, a rock arm having a portion thereofin threaded engagement with said shaft and in contact with one of saidheads, and means for oscillating said rock arm, in combination with amanually operated device to move one of said heads for effecting theseparation of said heads.

22. A device of the character stated, comprising a reciprocatory base, amovable and a stationary clamping head, a post on said base, yieldingmeans to maintain said post against said stationary head, means toactuate said movable head with respect to said stationary head duringthe reciprocation of saidbase, and means to effect movement of saidstationary head with respect to aid movable head to release an articleclamped.

23. A device of the character stated, comprising a reciprocatory base, amovable clamping head, a stationary clamping head, jaws carried by saidheads, a tension device to maintain the stationary head in position,means to cfiect the clamping action by movement of the movable jawduring the reciprocation of said base, and means whereby said stationaryhead may be moved to effect the unclamping of said jaws.

24. In a device ofthe character stated, a stationary clamping head, amovable clamping head, means for simultaneously reciprocating saidheads, a shaft common to said heads and having a threaded portionthereon in proximity to said movable head, a rock arm having one endthreaded to coact with said shaft and abutting against said movablehead, and means coacting with the opposite end of said rock arm tooscillate the latter during the reciprocation of said heads.

25. In a device of the character stated, a reciprocatory base, means toautomatically aline a turbine blade on said base in position to bemilled, and means to automatically clamp the turbine blade on said base.

26. In a device of the character stated, a reciprocatory support, meansto automatically aline a turbine blade on said support in position to bemilled, means to automatically clamp the turbine blade in its alinedposition, and manually controlled means to effect the release of saidblade.

27. In a device of the character stated, means to automatically aline aturbine blade in position to be milled, a reciprocatory clan'ipingdevice for the turbine blade, in combination with independent means foreffecting the unclamping of said turbine blade.

28. In a device of the character stated, means to automatically aline aturbine blade in position to be milled, a reciprocatory clamping devicefor the turbine blade, means for automatically effecting the release ofsaid turbine blade from the clamping device, and means for manuallyeffecting the release of said turbine blade when desired.

29. In a device of the character stated, a reciprocatory base, aclamping jaw for a turbine blade having an inner face which is concave,a second clamping jaw having an inner face which is convex, jaw holdersfor said clamping .jaws mounted on said base, and interlocking devicescommon tov said holders and jaws and means to automatically effectrelative movement of said jaw holders.

30. In a device of the character stated, a reciprocatory base, aclamping jaw having an inner face which is concave, a second clampingjaw having an inner face which is convex, jaw holders for said clampingjaws mounted on said base, means for securing said jaws in said jawholders, and including rods having their inner ends in adjustableengagement with said jaw holders, whereby the latter are capable ofrotary adjustment, and means to automatically effect relative movementof said jaw holders.

31. In a device of the character stated, a pair of jaw holders havingcurved outer faces provided with dove-tailed grooves therein,reciprocatory clamping heads for supporting said jaw holders, rodshaving their ends in sliding engagement with said grooves, and jawscarried by said jaw holders, the latter being capable of rotatableadjustment with respect to their support in combination with. means toautomatically effect relative movement of said clamping heads duringtheir reciprocation.

32. In a device of the character stated, a reciprocatory base, a pair ofclamping heads mounted on said base, a aw holder carried by each of saidheads, means for rotatably adjusting said jaw holders, a aw having aconcave face carried in one of said jaw holders, a jaw having a convexface carried in the other of said jaw holders, and means toautomatically effect relative movement of said clamping heads during thereciprocation of said base.

33. In a device of the character stated, a jaw holder having curvedouter and inner faces, said curved inner face having transverse grooves38 therein, a jaw having curved outer and inner faces and provided withlugs fitting in said transverse grooves, a second jaw holder having acurved outer face and a dove-tailed inner groove, a jaw thereforprovided with a base member adapted to be seated in said dove-tailedgroove, said latter jaw having an outer convex member adapted to engagethe concave face of a turbine blade.

34. In a device of the character stated, a jaw holder having curvedouter and inner faces, said inner face having transverse grooves 38therein, a jaw having curved outer and inner faces and provided withlugs fitted in said transverse grooves, a second jaw holder having acurved outer face and a dove-tailed inner groove, a jaw thereforprovided with a base member adapted to be seated in said dove-tailedgroove, and having an outer convex member adapted to engage the concaveface of a turbine blade, means for enabling said jaw holders to berotatably adjusted, a movable base for said jaw holders, and means toautomatically effect relative movement of said jaw holders during themovement of said base.

35. In a device of the character stated, a clamping jaw for a turbineblade having an inner face which is concave, a second clamping jawhaving an inner face which is convex, jaw holders for said clampingjaws, and interlocking devices common to said holders and jaws, incombination with means for enabling said jaw holders to be rotatablyadjusted, a reciprocatory base carrying said clamping jaws, and means toautomatically efiect relative movement of said clamping jaws during thereciprocation of said base.

36. In a device of the character stated, a clamping aw for a turbineblade having an inner face which is concave, a second clamping aw havingan inner face which is con vex, jaw holders for said clamping jaws, andinterlocking devices common to said holders and jaws, in combinationwith means for automatically opening and closing said jaws, and areciprocatory base on which said jaws are mounted.

37. In a device of the character stated, a reciprocatory base, aclamping jaw for a turbine blade having an inner face which is concave,a second clamping jaw having an inner face which is convex, jaw holdersfor said clamping jaws mounted on said base, and interlocking devicescommon to said holders and jaws, in combination with means for enablingsaid jaw holders to be rotatably adjusted and means for automaticallyopening and closing said jaws during the reciprocation of said base.

JOSEPH BRIGGS WEAVER.

WVitnesses Gno. A. PARKER, MoG. SINToN.

Copies 02% this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Fatente,

Washington, D. 0.

